Pyric herbivory
Pyric herbivory is the term for the interactions of fire with grazing on a grassland.[1] These interactions can promote biodiversity and function of grasslands.[1] Fire will increase the amount of grazing in a certain area, as grazing herbivores prefer the nutritious forage available in recently burned areas.[1][2] Since herbivores do not prefer areas that have not been recently burned, fuel will accumulate in unburned areas.[2] This causes those areas to burn more easily in the future.[2] These interactions between fire and grazing across space and time are referred to as positive and negative feedbacks.[1] These interactions create heterogeneity across the landscape.[1][2][3] Pyric herbivory is important to ecosystems that have evolved with fire and grazing, such as grasslands.[4]
Mechanisms
[edit]Pyric herbivory occurs because burning produces early successional plants that are more palatable and nutritious than late successional plants.[1] Because of this, herbivores prefer the forage that grows in recently burned areas.[1] Herbivores will graze more in the recently burned areas, causing leaf litter to build up in unburned areas.[1] This makes the unburned areas more prone to fire in the future.[1] Once fire occurs in a new area, herbivores will start grazing in that area.[1][2] This creates shifting patterns of grazing and fire across the landscape.[2]
Ecological importance
[edit]The shifting patterns of heterogeneity that are created by pyric herbivory changes the number and type of plant species present in the area.[2] This supports biodiversity of plants and wildlife in the area, restores and maintains ecosystem function, and aids in nutrient cycling.[1][2][3] It especially increases the availability of nitrogen and phosphorus by converting litter into ash.[3] A lack of disturbances such as fire and grazing can decrease biodiversity and soil function quality, as well as allow for woody encroachment.[3][5]
Concerns
[edit]There is a concern that agricultural livestock production will not be maintained when using conservation management strategies because of a need to lower stocking rates.[6] Pyric herbivory is a strategy that allows landowners to maintain stocking rates without losing livestock productivity and also improve the health of the grassland.[6]
There are social factors involved in whether a landowner chooses to implement pyric herbivory.[5] These factors include previous experience of the landowner, the landowner's perception of woody encroachment on the land, proximity to neighbors, and risk orientation.[5] Previous experience applying pyric herbivory will increase the landowner's likelihood to apply it as a management strategy.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Fuhlendorf, Samuel D.; Engle, David M.; Kerby, Jay; Hamilton, Robert (June 2009). "Pyric Herbivory: Rewilding Landscapes through the Recoupling of Fire and Grazing". Conservation Biology. 23 (3): 588–598. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2008.01139.x. ISSN 0888-8892.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Fuhlendorf, S. D.; Engle, D. M. (August 2004). "Application of the fire–grazing interaction to restore a shifting mosaic on tallgrass prairie". Journal of Applied Ecology. 41 (4): 604–614. Bibcode:2004JApEc..41..604F. doi:10.1111/j.0021-8901.2004.00937.x. ISSN 0021-8901.
- 1 2 3 4 Canals, Rosa M.; Múgica, Leire; Durán, María; Emeterio, Leticia San (September 2024). "Restorative pyric herbivory practices in shrub-encroached grasslands enhance nutrient resource availability and spatial heterogeneity". Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment. 372 109072. Bibcode:2024AgEE..37209072C. doi:10.1016/j.agee.2024.109072. hdl:2454/52324. ISSN 0167-8809.
- ↑ Bond, William J.; Keeley, Jon E. (2005-07-01). "Fire as a global 'herbivore': the ecology and evolution of flammable ecosystems". Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 20 (7): 387–394. doi:10.1016/j.tree.2005.04.025. ISSN 0169-5347. PMID 16701401.
- 1 2 3 4 Toledo, David; Sorice, Michael; Kreuter, Urs (2013-10-21). "Social and Ecological Factors Influencing Attitudes Toward the Application of High-Intensity Prescribed Burns to Restore Fire Adapted Grassland Ecosystems". Ecology and Society. 18 (4). doi:10.5751/ES-05820-180409. hdl:1969.1/180765. ISSN 1708-3087.
- 1 2 Limb, Ryan F.; Fuhlendorf, Samuel D.; Engle, David M.; Weir, John R.; Elmore, R. Dwayne; Bidwell, Terrance G. (2011-11-01). "Pyric–Herbivory and Cattle Performance in Grassland Ecosystems". Rangeland Ecology & Management. 64 (6): 659–663. Bibcode:2011REcoM..64..659L. doi:10.2111/REM-D-10-00192.1. hdl:10150/642913. ISSN 1550-7424.